Hi my name is Tyrianna and Tawanda is my mother.  She is a mother of four wonderful children, a grandmother to a beautiful grandson, and a wife to an amazing husband. In August 2019, she was diagnosed with DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) breast cancer. At that time, the treatment plan consisted of a partial mastectomy, daily radiation treatments of about 35 in total, and hormone management therapy lasting about 5 years. But after the first surgery in October 2019, the surgeon noticed there was more cancer hiding near the chest wall that was different from the original diagnosis. So the surgeon took out what could been seen and felt and sent it off to pathology. Unfortunately, the result changed for the worse as the margins were not clear and a new diagnosis manifested as IDC  (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma). This led to a second surgery two weeks later to clear margins of all cancer, as well as a lymph node dissection/biopsy. After the second surgery, the pathology showed no signs  of cancer left in the breast. This was awesome news but we all know how pesky cancer can be, microscopically lingering in the body, waiting to attack its next target. So in order to ward off this risk of recurrence, the treatment team were all in agreement that chemotherapy would also be necessary due to the multiple factors having to do with the aggressive growth and other characteristics of the cancer cells. So now with the new treatment plan in place consisting of Chemotherapy, Radiation, Hormone Management Therapy, the cost of fighting this terrible disease has greatly increased with new insurance deductibles and co-insurance payments due to reset on January 1, 2020. 

Cost of Breast Cancer Treatments 
Provider office visits
Clinic visits for treatments
Lab tests (blood tests, urine tests, and more, which are usually billed separately)
Procedures (for diagnosis or treatment, which can include room charges, equipment, different doctors, and more)
Imaging tests (like x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, which may mean separate bills for radiologist fees, equipment, and any medicines used for the test)
Radiation treatments (implants, external radiation, or both)
Drug costs (chemo or other medicines that treat your cancer that may be inpatient, outpatient, prescription, non-prescription, and procedure-related)
Hospital stays (which can include many types of costs such as drugs, tests, and procedures as well as nursing care, doctor visits, and consults with specialists)
Rehabilitation expenses
Surgery (surgeon, anesthesiologist, pathologist, operating room fees, equipment, medicines, and more)
Home care (can include equipment, drugs, visits from specially trained nurses, and more)
Specialist referrals (other specialty doctors, physical therapy, and others)
Transportation costs (This may include the cost of travel to receive treatment, be it by car, plane, train, cab, or bus. In some hospitals or clinics, you may have to pay for parking).
Some patients need hotels or lodging during treatment. 

The above list was taken from the American Cancer Society website but to give you a realistic dollar figure of my mother’s expenses, see below: 

If she had no insurance she would have paid $230,000 in 2019 and that is not including chemotherapy and radiation.  However, with insurance, the total allowable amount was $65,000.00
Mommy had to pay  the total out of pocket expense of $6,550 and the insurance paid the rest. This is the same amount ($6,550) that will need to be paid in 2020. We set the fundraising goal at $8000 to cover the $6,550.00 as well as any other unforeseen expenses that may arise during treatment.

We have already received an outpouring of support in all forms. People have given so much to include cards, flowers, t-shirt purchases, text messages, time, phone calls, volunteering for non-profit organizations, monetary donations, prayers, hospital and home visits, food preparation, internet research help, and so much more. Our family appreciates all kinds of support. This has truly been a humbling experience for the entire family. We created this go-fund-me as we have received requests from those near and far about how they are able to make a contribution. Thank you so much for your help as we band together to help my mom win this fight against Breast Cancer ❤️